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Explanation for:
Matthew
13
:
47
Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kind of fishes.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The Lord accurately likened His proclamation to a net. By entering the world without bias, it gathers those who reside within it, much like a net that, immersed in the depths of the sea, causes such turmoil that it traverses the entire expanse of that element, extracting those trapped within its grasp and leading us from the darkness of the world into the radiance of the true light. It discernibly selects the righteous while discarding the wicked, revealing the forthcoming judgment's examination."},{"author-name":"Caesarius of Nazianzus","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a176e0f4c3aeca7aee3_Caesarius%20of%20Nazianzus.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The kingdom of heaven is akin to a net cast into the depths of the sea, gathering fish of every kind. Once the net is full, it is drawn aboard, and the good fish are placed in containers, while the undesirable ones are discarded. When considering the Lord's directive, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men,’ we can relate this imagery to the apostles, who acted as catchers of thoughtless souls, meticulously crafting expansive nets from both the Old and New Testaments. They cast these nets into the world as one would into the sea, aiming not to ensnare the wise but to gather followers from all walks of life, capturing both the righteous and the unrighteous with the divine net of evangelism, as they navigate life’s tumultuous waters, guided by Scripture and the Holy Spirit.\\n\\nThe multitude caught in this net includes notable individuals; Isaiah, the eminent prophet, foretold this over five centuries prior by stating, ‘Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, and the lynx lie down beside the goat, and the wolf and the bear shall eat grass (spittle) with the ox, and the calf and the lion shall graze together, and the young man shall lead them.’ This unity illustrates the spiritual assembly where both the fierce and the humble are nurtured in the Spirit, shepherded by the Infant. The same prophet also proclaimed, ‘Unto us a Son is born, and is given unto us, and His name is called God the strong Sovereign.’ When the end of the age arrives, the net will be brought aboard, and by the command of Christ, in conjunction with the angels, a separation will be made among the catch, distinguishing the sinners from the righteous."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The kingdom of heaven can be likened to a net cast into the sea, gathering fish of every variety. Once full, it is brought to shore, where the good are collected into containers, while the bad are discarded (Matt. 13:47-48). How does this parable contrast with that of the tares? In both, there are those who are saved and those who are lost. However, in the latter scenario, some fall into error by embracing harmful teachings, while others, as mentioned previously, are lost due to neglecting the Word of God; in this case, the loss stems from a corrupt life. Consequently, those who are lost are in the most pitiful state: they have acquired knowledge and have been captured, yet redemption eludes them. In other passages, the act of separation is attributed to the Good Shepherd Himself; here, it is assigned to angels, mirroring the parable of the tares. What is the significance of this? The Lord communicates with His disciples in varying degrees of depth. This particular parable is explained by Him, not at the disciples’ request, but according to His own intent; He elucidates a portion of it, thus intensifying their sense of dread. Should you assume that only the wicked face condemnation, thinking such a fate is not perilous, Christ clarifies the nature of their punishment by stating they will be cast into a furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, along with immense suffering. Do you recognize the many paths leading to ruin? The stone, the thorns, the path, the tares, the net. It is for good reason it is written, ‘wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many go in by it’ (Matt. 7:13)."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Following the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy, which states, \\"Behold, I will send a multitude of fishers\\" (Jer. 16:16), Peter, Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee—James and John—responded to the call, \\"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men\\" (Mt. 4:19). They then constructed a net, a seine woven from the Gospel truths of both the Old and New Testaments, and cast it into the sea of the world. This net extends into the depths of the waters, capturing everything that comes into its reach, encompassing both the righteous and the unrighteous, or the finest and the most undesirable of fish. When the end of the age arrives, as He indicated shortly thereafter, the net will be drawn to shore, revealing the true judgment or the sign for distinguishing one type of fish from another. There, as if in a secure harbor away from the tempests, the good will be gathered into the vessels of eternal life, while the wicked will face the fires of Gehenna, to be consumed and scorched."},{"author-name":"Isidore of Pelusium","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d94130e668938c9ae9d_Isidore%20of%20Pelusium.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The analogy of the seine, which the Lord used to describe the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 13:47), illustrates that just as a net cast into the sea gathers various types of fish, the everlasting Kingdom of Christ embraces individuals from every nation, offering salvation to all in accordance with their faith; for it is not the noble or renowned who partake in eternal joy, but rather those who lead righteous and pure lives, who have been seized by the true fishers of men. Thus, similar to how good fish are collected into containers when the net is pulled from the water, during the judgment of the Church of the Lord—encompassing those who identify as Christians and are bound by a shared faith—those who remain steadfast in the truth will be gathered into vessels, signifying eternal abodes, while heretics and adversaries of the true faith will be excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven."},{"author-name":"Gregory the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88c2b032f5f6e5effaa54_Gregory%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":6,"exegesis-text":"The kingdom of heaven is compared to a net cast into the ocean, capturing fish of all varieties. Once the net is full, it is pulled ashore where the good fish are collected into containers, while the unsuitable are discarded. This net encompasses all types of fish as it extends an invitation for the forgiveness of sins to both the wise and the foolish, the free and the enslaved, the affluent and the impoverished, the strong and the frail. Hence, it is expressed to God through the psalmist, To Thee all flesh resorteth (Psalm 64:3). The net reaches its fullness when it encompasses humanity in its entirety. It is then brought to safety on dry land, for the sea symbolizes this current age, while the shore represents the culmination of the age."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"This parable is daunting, as it illustrates that even those who believe yet do not lead a righteous life will be cast into the flames. The net symbolizes the teachings of the fishermen-apostles, intricately crafted from signs and prophetic declarations, for every teaching the apostles delivered was reinforced by miracles and the prophetic words. Thus, this net has been collected from a diverse array of individuals—Gentiles, Greeks, Jews, immoral persons, tax collectors, and thieves."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The kingdom of heaven is referred to as the teaching of faith, while the sea symbolizes the world due to its trials and the storms of temptation. The diverse fish represent the vast array of individuals living within it, including spouses, children, the elderly, those who are single, and couples, as well as various nations."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In order to avoid the misconception that faith alone is adequate for our salvation, the Lord provides us with a profound and powerful parable: THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A LONG AND STRONG NET CAST INTO THE SEA, CAPTURING FISH OF EVERY KIND. In this manner, the Church of Christ shall expand vigorously across the globe, resembling a net spread over the vast sea. Through the apostles, who transformed into fishers of souls, individuals from all nations will be gathered, both righteous and unrighteous. “With the net of the word of truth and the redeeming commandments, the Lord embraces, collects, and safeguards them, and by the merciful strength of the Cross, draws them out of the waters into the air and onto solid ground, from worldly existence to spiritual life, from sin to sanctification, from the transient to the everlasting, from the temporal to the eternal, from the earthly to the heavenly, and from the world to God and His eternally blessed kingdom.”"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The ocean represents the world, while the net symbolizes the teaching of faith, and the fishermen are the apostles and their descendants. This net has drawn in individuals from all walks of life—pagans, Greeks, Jews, immoral individuals, tax collectors, and thieves."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The fourth parable that Jesus shared with His disciples was of a net cast into the sea, capturing fish of various kinds. This reflects the time when the proclamation of the Gospel will reach every corner of the earth, and the Church established by Christ will embrace all nations. At that time, the net will be pulled to shore; the good will be collected into containers, while the wicked will be discarded. Angels will then emerge to distinguish the unrighteous from the righteous, casting them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. \\n\\nRegarding the term \\"furnace of fire,\\" or \\"Gehenna of fire,\\" and the imagery of outer darkness along with weeping and gnashing of teeth, Jesus presented the grim fate of sinners to His listeners. He indicated that those condemned by Him at the end of the age would be thrown into the furnace of fire, characterized by sorrow and anguish. The interpretation of “furnace of fire” raises questions: should it be viewed literally, or is it merely a comparison to the afflictions awaiting sinners? We can argue that these terms could be considered literal only if Jesus consistently described the future punishment in the same manner. However, it is clear that He used varied expressions on different occasions. For instance, in the Sermon on the Mount, He described the suffering of sinners as akin to existence in the valley of fire (Matthew 5:29). Later, when referring to the fate of the Jews, He mentioned their being cast into outer darkness, accompanied by weeping and gnashing of teeth, while those from the east and west would sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:11-12).\\n\\nThe metaphor of burning in a fiery furnace would have been familiar to Jesus' audience from the Old Testament: for example, Judah condemned Tamar to be burned (Genesis 38:24), and David ordered the inhabitants of Rabbah to be thrown into the fire (2 Samuel 12:31). Nebuchadnezzar commanded that Ananias, Mishael, and Azariah be cast into the furnace for refusing to bow to the golden statue (Daniel 3:21). This form of execution was recognized as one of the cruelest and most excruciating methods of capital punishment in ancient Eastern societies. Therefore, when Jesus spoke of the dire consequences awaiting sinners in eternal life and sought to communicate to His audience the severity of their fate, he used the example of burning in a fiery furnace as a vivid analogy for those who do not repent and embrace a new life.\\n\\nWhen addressing the Sadducees' inquiry about resurrection, Jesus likened those who would be resurrected to spirits or angels prior to the Last Judgment. He further clarified that the bodies of the resurrected would not be the physical forms we possess in our earthly existence (Luke 20:27-36), suggesting that the anguish of the condemned would be of a mental nature rather than physical."}]}
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